Ibrahim Zakzaky is the primary figure and spiritual leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN). The Islamic sect has established itself in all strata of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria. They are identified as Shiite followers.
IMN drew its followers from among the uneducated urban and rural underclass. Formerly, the Muslim Brotherhood constituted of northern university intellectuals, some of whom became leading northern politicians and technocrats.
Here are 9 facts you must know about this Islamic sect in the Northern part of Nigeria:
1. Self-flagellation
On the tenth day of Muharram, which is the first month of the Islamic calendar, thousands of men of all ages take to the streets with swords, chains with blades and various sharp objects to take part in the bloody flagellation rituals.
Some Shi’a believe that taking part in self flagellation which is also known as Ashura washes away their sins.
2. Propagating of Shi'a Islam
Zakzaky began propagating Shi'a Islam around 1979. He started at the time of the Iranian revolution which saw Iran’s monarchy overthrown and replaced with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.
The resource forum of IMN held a symposium on "The creation of the illegal state of Israel" at the Arewa house, Kaduna on May 21, 2008.
Zakzaky said: "When Israel is celebrating sixty years of occupying Palestine's land, we are mourning because the truth is Israeli State is created on the basis of terrorism and what is not yours is not yours, no matter years of oppression and hostage it would slip someday along with those supporting them. Israel will fall with her allies certainly."
3. Shiite's Location
The establishment of Nigerian Islamic institutions is like the Sufi brotherhoods and other Islamic reformist organizations like the Izala which is to fight innovation practiced by the Sufi brotherhoods.
The IMN has been most popular across the emirate states, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Zaria, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Gombe because of its criticism of the emirs.
4. IMN's founder is an intellect
Nigeria's Islamic Movement (IMN), formerly the Muslim Brothers was founded by Ibrahim Zakzaky in the late 1970s. Zakzaky is also an outspoken Shi'a Muslim cleric in Nigeria.
He was a student at Ahmadu Bello university where he bagged his first degree as an economist before his certificate was withdrawn due to his religious activities.
5. The belief of the leader
Zakzaky believed that the establishment of a republic along similar religious lines (both Sunni and Shia schools of thought) in Nigeria would be feasible.
IMN under Zakzaky is to ensure more stringent application of Islamic legal and administrative systems then ultimately to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.
6. The leadership is perceived as a threat
He, Zakzaky has been detained several times due to accusations of civil disobedience under military regimes in Nigeria during the 1980s and 1990s and is still viewed with suspicion or as a threat by Nigerian authorities.
7. Pilgrimage rites
The Shi’a organize an annual pilgrimage to Zaria, El Zakzaky's base. They trek in large groups from certain points to meet their leader.
While trekking, they block major highways and create a lot of trouble for travelers, and security agents turn a blind eye to it.
8. IMN condemns other Islamic groups
Zakzaky's movement maligns other Islamic reformist organizations to be too corrupt and un-Islamic government.
9. Eruption of violence
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria reportedly mobilized millions of people for Shi‘a religious events and 50,000 people for political rallies where Khomeini and his successors were revered, while flags of the United States and Israel are burned.
Meanwhile in a related development, an associate professor and head of the department of mechatronics engineering in Bayero University urges the President Mohammadu Buhari to beware of having Shi’a Islam adherents in his government.
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